We hope you can stop by to join the fun and share your Metaverseexperiences, along with your virtual gaming, computer geek adventures,cyber art projects, and dorkbot stories. If you’re already registered forSL you can teleport to the meeting viahttp://slurl.com/secondlife/Quat/137/88/54/

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Do you dream of being a great filmmaker in Second Life? Do you like Hitchcock thriller movies or do you prefer Spielberg-style action and adventure? Are you a fan of Tim Burton's imaginative creations? Welcome to the world of Machinima, where you can take all your cinematic projects out of the drawer!

Machinima is a term created from the English words "machine" and "animation", and refers to films created by computer graphics produced through home computers, as opposed to the complex productions made through professional 3D programs.

Usually, machinimas are series or short movies produced using tools and resources available in a game.

Second Life is an environment that is conducive to the creators of Machinima because it offers tools that allow players to create their own digital resources, scenarios, and characters to record the actions they want to include in their movies. All this, with low cost and considerably reduced production time of digital animation.

Also, in Second Life there are many options for what can be called movie locations. Inworld, creators can find different immersive and interactive installations, as well as thematic islands and different environments very favorable to the setting of films.

A Machinima works exactly like an animation or film and as such needs a story with a beginning, middle, and end, for the assembly of the scenes. As in the cinema, the production of a Machinima begins by the elaboration of a script that is of great importance for the programming of the capture of the images that are made in an established order, considering the technical complexity for the taking of each scene.

In the production of a Machinima, there is the creation and construction of the characters which are used. Avatars can be modeled and characterized according to the theme and animated by means of animation mechanisms like HUDs and AOs (animation override).

In many cases, the film is scripted, dubbed and filmed by its creator, which is a perfect opportunity for people to make use of their creativity.

Join the Second Life Machinima Forum, where you can exchange ideas with Machinima creators and lovers, get business tips and see what the locals are producing.

The different types of viewer used for navigation in the Second Life virtual environment, such as Firestorm, Singularity, Imprudence or Second Life Viewer, provide a series of tools to adjust angles, lighting, focus etc. that allow for the capture of images similar to those of the cinematic camera. These viewers all offer different forms of planes and camera motion sequences.

These tools allow access to users of different capabilities and requirements, from the amateur or hobbyist to productions with a high degree of cinematic professionalism.

It offers the possibility of performing highly complex and sophisticated productions at a very low cost when compared to animated films.

While researching Machinima in Second Life, I was pleasantly surprised to find many creative artists who make their designs available for viewing.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Our virtual world is turning 14. Let's celebrate together as Second Life residents. It's your community, be involved.To quote from the blog:While much of the interest around virtual reality has shifted to singular experiences, largely fueled by the pursuit of headset-focused content, we want to remind you of the joy of hundreds of people from all over coming together in one place in celebration, and form a carnival-like atmosphere that you simply cannot achieve alone. Let’s challenge all the perceptions, break all the molds, and show everyone that we know how to celebrate.For more information please go to:http://www.slcommunitycelebration.info/

Making Email From Second Life (More) Reliable

There are lots of things in Second Life that send email, but as many of you have discovered, that email doesn't always get to the intended recipient. There are a lot of reasons for email from SL not being as reliable as we'd all like, and the Lab is working on fixing as many of those as we can, but some of them need your help.

One of the most important reasons mail doesn't get through is that many Second Life accounts have bad email addresses - when something in Second Life sends to one of those bad addresses, it generates errors. The number of those errors causes many network providers and spam detectors to block even perfectly good email if it comes from Second Life. To fix that, we need to cut down on the bad addresses, so… over the next few months, we will be converting all the sources of email in Second Life to not even try to send to an address that has not been verified.

To check whether or not your address is verified, go to your Account -> Change Email page; look next to your current address there. You should see a green checkmark and tag: √ Verified. If you do, you're all set and none of our changes will affect you negatively. If you don't, there will be a button you should use to send yourself a verification email; when you get the email, click on the link in the message to verify your address. Changing your email address will automatically send a verification email.

If your address is verified, you should not have any problems with our changes to sending behavior - hopefully, you'll begin to see more reliable messages.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

GizzA did and brings you the new GizzA - Karlie Sweater Dresses. A long sweater dress with eye catching fitted belt wrapped around the waist. GizzA - Karlie Sweater Dresses are available in 5 different color packs (with 2 colors) and each has a normal as well as loose fit version

It is said that music is perhaps the most powerful external influence that shapes who you are—how you think, how you feel, and who you become.In fact, the very word musiccomes from the root word musewhich literally means “to be absorbed in thought.” That’s what music does, it absorbs our conscious and subconscious mind and directs those thoughts.

“I feel so in the moment... like nothing else matters... all that matters is the music. It's exhilarating and freeing.” AleyKat.

I had the pleasure of interviewing AleyKat (Aleylia Resident), a relative newcomer to the SL music scene. Although she’s been in SL for over six years, it’s been the last year that she’s found the destination of her journey… Music.

Like so many others before her, she was on a different website, and a friend of hers told her about Second Life and showed her the ropes... she was hooked instantly.

I asked her how her SL journey had been, she replied, “It's been a rollercoaster, to be honest. The personal friendships can sometimes be tricky to navigate but the creativity and almost unlimited possibilities are incredible to me.”

Aley said that somewhat amazingly she only discovered the live music scene in Second Life when she was about five years old... “I don't know how that happened! I fell in love with listening to all these wonderful performers and a friend of mine knew that I had a background IRL of singing and encouraged me to give it a go. I think it is an astonishing thing that you can sit in the comfort of your own home and listen LIVE to musicians basically free at the point of delivery. Some people who may not ever be able to access live music now have a chance to listen- I truly believe music enriches your life like almost nothing else.”

I asked her if she thought that SL was a valid platform for people to explore their creativity and did it translate to that creativity being transferred back into the real world?

She said, “I believe 100% that SL is a valid platform and it can be transferred into RL if desired. I don't know if it would personally help me transfer SL audience to RL audience numbers but it might help some with their confidence and in turn, then enable them to feel able to perform IRL if they wanted that.”

She’s involved in music in many different aspects in real life but LOVES being able to perform from the comfort of her own home and not have to stress about lugging equipment around.

Aley has tentatively begun to pen her own music. She said, “I started recently but still I'm learning... I draw inspiration from RL. It’s scary though because you're exposing yourself and putting yourself out there. It makes you feel very vulnerable.”

Her role model in SL is one of her closest friends, Savannah Rain. Aley said, “She works so hard, always has a kind word for her fans and time for them, and her heart is one of the best I know.

AleyKat said that after family and close friends, music means everything to her. She’s constantly grateful and amazed that she gets to sing in Second Life and people actually come and listen and support her. “I never take it for granted, ever,” she said.

She loves being able to share her passion for music with people and says it's an honour when people tell her she’s made them feel better or uplifted a rubbish day for them. On the other hand, she said it’s hard if she’s had a really bad day and then has to try to put on a good performance. She added, “Often though it cheers me up a lot to sing: D It's also a pain sometimes having to sing at 1am... 5pm SLT... that sometimes makes me tired.” Being from the UK, it requires some juggling with time zones.

As for critics of her music, she said, “Hey everyone is entitled to their own opinion. As long as it's presented in a polite manner I have no problem with people that don't like what I do.”

I asked if I was to turn on her iPod right now, what five artists/songs would I see on her recently played list?

She replied. “Probably a song I'm learning as a request... a couple of hits from the musicals.... a song from Oh Wonder.... and some PMJ.”

She plans on singing for as long as people will come and listen. She is the good hands of the team at Whispering Sands Live Promotions, and they will see to it that she does. Badone was Aley’s first manager, but she joined WSLP for financial reasons. She is very happy with their representation of her. They are totally professional and have never let her down, what's more, she says that Jorr and Keileigh have become great friends of hers.

AleyKat’s sound in five words:

Unique, vintage, eclectic, passionate, emotional.

To catch the lovely AleyKat in action, check the Whispering Sands Live Promotions schedule, which is regularly updated right here in the SL Enquirer.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

The name Mimi Juneau is synonymous with fashion in Second Life. She has been a proud supporter of all things fashion related for close on ten years now.

I’ve interviewed Mimi several times during my time as an SL journalist, the last time being five years ago.

I thought it was high time to catch up with her again.

Much has changed in Second Life over those five years and the biggest of those changes being the introduction of mesh and the online Second Life Marketplace. Whilst we all know that the only constant in life is change, not all change is positive or necessarily for the greater good. But nevertheless, we relentlessly move forward.

I sat down with Mimi in her store, Mimi’s Choice, which is now on Redgrave’s Sim. One of the most significant consequences of the changes in SL has been that she’s had to let go of her own sim. Happily, though she’s back with her friends the Redgrave’s, which is where it all started for her back in 2007.

Mimi’s Choice turns ten later in the year, and Mimi is enjoying what she does more than ever. She still says she’s just a poor reseller, but actually, she’s much more than that. She’s an icon of fashion and a thoroughly lovely person to boot. She continues to work as hard as she ever did, representing a number of high-end designers.

Sadly she’s had to reduce the size of the store but she is pragmatic about the situation and basically, has taken the stance of rolling with the punches.

Mimi will happily assist those that ask for her help. For instance, my shoes and feet were mismatched to the mesh body that I was wearing and she kindly pointed out the error of my ways. My problem is that I’ve never really taken to mesh as it’s all such a damn hassle. You need a degree in order to make your avatar look even halfway decent and to be honest, I don’t have either the time or the inclination to learn all the ins and outs. Nevertheless, I digress. Mimi will go so far as being your personal shopper to help you navigate the plethora of stores out there. For example, if you happen to be a male avatar and don’t know where to begin to look for decent hair, just ask Mimi, she knows all the good designers.

Mimi’s Choice has to compete with subscription boxes these days. These subscription boxes contain items from a number of designers and are issued, in some cases. as regularly as monthly. For example BishBox and Luxe Box. These boxes have added a new dimension to the resale of Second Life fashion and interior décor, to the detriment of the likes of Mimi’s Choice and add pressure to the SL fashion designer’s bottom line.

If you’re looking for a proper old fashioned shopping experience then Mimi’s Choice is where to find it. Half the fun in acquiring new clothes and accessories is looking at what’s available and comparing what’s out there. At Mimi’s Choice, you can do that all under one roof where everything from, hair and shoes to the latest glam gown is waiting for you.

Mimi is still enjoying her Second Life journey even if it’s a bit of an uphill battle these days.

As for the future of Mimi's Choice, she said that she will continue to provide an environment where designers of Second Life can come together in one unique environment and exhibit their top items for the masses of SL to enjoy.

She concluded, “Times have changed and will continue to do so, but Mimi's Choice will continue as is for as long as possible.”

It is already possible to visit the International Space Station as a tourist. When there are several giant space stations just a 10 minute flight from earth many people will want to visit.

What will life be like on a zero gravity space station? Will the stations be the most popular tourist destinations ever? Or cheap theme parks with bad food?

The views of earth will be amazing. Zero gravity will be fun, at least for a while. Will ordinary earth sports be possible on the stations? Will there be new zero gravity sports? Will new laws be needed? How long will tourists be able to stay before they become physically unable to return to earth?

If some people live and work there permanently will they, or their children, differ physically from earth people? Will the sky people consider themselves superior?

Come and help us write the future travel guides to space, with a hitchhiking section of course.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Motorcycle Clubs or MC’s as they’re colloquially termed are groups of people who appreciate motorcycling. They’re clubs organized with the purpose of establishing camaraderie and friendship, among its participants. The clubs organize trips and meetings to promote friendship and fellowship among all participants.

In Second Life, there are many motorcycle-related clubs that are a source of entertainment. Places like biker bars, dance clubs, strip clubs, or simply places that motorcyclists like to get together and hang out with other bikers.

Here are five places I recommend. I’ve included a little information regarding what you can find at each venue so that you know what to expect before teleporting to the sim.

Dirty Bones Saloon & Track

Dirty Bones Saloon & Track is a place to meet people from the motorcycle community or anyone who may be interested. All are welcome as long as respect is given to one another. The saloon is sponsored by the Sacred Bones Society of SL motorcycle club. "Brotherhood, respect, and understanding,” is their motto. While I was there I talked to Sophiesosweet Resident who said that her BF has a RL MC and so they have started one in SL. There are still no rules defined for the MC and everyone is welcome to use the track.

Pandemonium Nation MC is a brotherhood and sisterhood, of like-minded bikers. They are family beyond blood, true brothers and sisters. On the SIM you will find the Motorcycle Club, track, bike, ride, shooting range, drag strip. All ages welcome. There was no one around when I was there (1:00 PM Second Life Time) and I was not able to find more information about MC rules.

On the seductive roads of the south, you will find the RRMC. This MC has two sims full of roads, tracks, and entertainment. You are requested to respect the privacy of the homes on the sim. You can find information on how to join the Support Group and obtain an application prospectus. The prospectus requires information such as avatar name, date of birth and level of current riding skills (Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner, and Never Ridden Before). Once you have answered the questions, drop the notecard into the depot box on the RRMC berth or deliver to any RRMC Recruiting Officer. Notification of Members' General Meetings and other RRMC Events, such as weekly tours, DJ events, and parties, are posted on the Event Board at the RRMC Pousadas Dock.

The Alliance is a place where the Devil's Rejects MC and Black Jax Gang have sealed an alliance and have fun. On-site, you will find Drag Racing, Motorcycles, Cars, Hotrods, Strippers, Hookers, Motorcycle Club, MC and Naughty Girls. Motorcycles and cars must use the track only.